Routine Appointments

You have a right to express a preference of practitioner and we will do our best to give you an appointment with the doctor of your choice. Should your preferred doctor not have a free appointment you will be offered an appointment with one of the other GPs in the practice.

You can also book evening and weekend appointments at Queen Mary's Hospital or Erith Hospital's '8-8 GP Hub'. Please check with the receptionists that you have a 'Summary Care Record' (SCR) when booking an appointment at the GP Hub.Please note: If you have 'Opted-Out' of a Summary Care Record the 8-8 GP Hub services will not be available to you.

Urgent Appointments

If you need advice or treatment for a condition you feel needs urgent attention then please complete an eConsult form. It is practice policy that any patient needing to see a doctor will be seen at the end of morning surgery and evening surgeries if necessary. You will either be given advice over the phone, or be asked to come to the surgery to be seen.

One Appointment One Problem

Appointments are 10 minutes long. We ask that you try to observe the "One Appointment, One Problem" ethos by avoiding saving up your medical problems and bringing a list to the doctor or nurse practitioner. We strive to deal with each medical problem to the highest standard and this proves impossible if we are expected to deal with a number of problems in one appointment.

Also your appointment is booked for you only, so please do not expect the doctor to deal with the problem of a relative or a child in addition during your appointment. Please make a separate appointment for your relative/child if they need to see a doctor or nurse practitioner as well as yourself.

Lateness

Any patient who arrives for their appointment more than 10 minutes late may be asked to re-book their appointment. The doctor or nurse practitioner is under no obligation to see a patient who arrives late and it is at their discretion.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen more quickly.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

To leave a message stating your Name, the Time and Date of the appointment you wish to cancel.

Weekday evening and weekend GP appointments

All patients registered with a Bexley GP (or a resident in Bexley but have yet to registered with a Bexley GP practice) can now request a GP appointment between 6.30pm and 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm Saturdays and Sundays (including bank holidays).

How can an appointment be made?

Booking is easy – patients should contact their GP practice in the usual way during normal operating hours, and ask for a weekday evening or weekend appointment. To book an evening or weekend appointment after the GP has closed, call 111.

Who can use the service?

Any patient registered with a GP surgery in the borough of Bexley can request an appointment.

How far in advance can I book an appointment?

At the moment, appointment slots will be available up to one week in advance.

Where does the appointment take place?

Patients will be offered an appointment at one of two GP hubs in Bexley. The GP practice will confirm which location when booking the appointment

Queen Mary’s Hospital

Adult learning disabilities and community services departments

B Block

Frognal Avenue

Sidcup

Kent

DA14 6LT

Erith Hospital

Main entrance

Park Crescent

Erith

DA8 3EE

(Car park is accessed from Hind Crescent opposite the junction with Ling Road)

How do I cancel appointment if my GP practice is closed?

Patients unable to attend their appointment should call the following numbers to help ensure that the appointment slot can be made available to someone else.

The following numbers, with an answerphone, will be available for patients wishing to cancel appointments:

Queen Mary’s Hospital: 0208 269 4120

Erith Hospital: 01322 356150

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

What is Choose and Book?

Choose and Book is a new service that allows you to choose your hospital or clinic and book an appointment with a specialist.

Since summer 2004, Choose and Book has been introduced across England. It will eventually be available to all patients.

From 1 January 2006, when you and your GP agree that you need to see a specialist, you will be able to choose from at least four hospitals or clinics. You will also be able to choose the date and time of your appointment.

The benefits of Choose and Book:

You can choose from at least four hospitals

You can also choose the date and time for your appointment.

You experience greater convenience and certainty. With the old system, your hospital or clinic chose the date and time of your appointment. This may not have been convenient for you. With Choose and Book, the choice is yours.

There is less chance that information will get lost in the post because more correspondence takes place through computers.